Surname Magofrey - Meaning and Origin
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Magofrey: What does the surname Magofrey mean?
The last name Magofrey is a habitational name of the old French language, originating from the town of Magouer in the south of France. This town derives its name from the Latin word for “field” or “vineyard” and thus the Magofrey surname literally translates to “person from Magouer”.
The Magofrey surname first appeared in records in the mid 13th century in Aquitaine, the French-speaking region of southwest France, where the Magouer family held a family seat from very early times. It is believed that the first bearers of the name were traveling merchants, as many left their homes in Magouer in search of a better life.
The name Magofrey is recorded in many different spellings including Magouer, Magoufrey, Maguofray, Magofrey, Magofay, Magoufraie and Magufray. These variations have arisen as the name was recorded in documents in different parts of the world. For example, Magouer was most common in France while Magofrey was used more commonly outside of the country. The name is still found in France and across the world today.
Order DNA origin analysisMagofrey: Where does the name Magofrey come from?
The last name Magofrey is most commonly found today in the United States. According to the US Census Bureau, the Magofrey surname is most frequently located in the state of Ohio. Records show that in 2019 there were approximately 402 unique individuals carrying the name Magofrey in the US.
Moreover, Magofrey surnames can also be found scattered throughout other countries such as Canada, England, Scotland, France, Germany, and Australia, although they are much more rare. It appears as if the last name Magofrey originates from the Old Norse language, meaning “son of a Goffi,” a term which refers to a Norwegian term for godfather.
Furthermore, it is believed that the name Magofrey was first used in England in the 12th century, most likely brought from Norway by Viking settlers. However, it has since spread throughout much of the world, but perhaps none so much as the United States. Here, it is one of the more uncommon surnames to go by, but is still recognized as a proud American heritage.
Variations of the surname Magofrey
The Magofrey surname has many possible variants and spellings, as well as other surnames with the same origin.
Variants and spellings of Magofrey include: Magofree, Magoffrey, Magoffree, MacGoffrey, MacGoffree, MacGofrey, MacGofree, McGofrey, and McGofree.
Surnames of the same origin that are grouped with Magofrey are: Moffat, Moffatt, Muffat, Muffatt, Moffoot, MacFadde, McFadde, McFadyen, and MacFatee.
The origin of the Magofrey surname is Scottish. The spelling evolution of Magofrey can be traced back to the old Gaelic names Macgobhrain or MacGofraidh. The name is thought to mean "son of a god-man" or "son of the bold man." Over time, the spelling has changed, leading to various modern-day spellings and surnames of the same origin.
The MacGoffreys were a prominent family in the Aberdeen area of Scotland during the 16th and 17th centuries. As time passed, many of the MacGoffreys emigrated to the New World, and the Magofrey and other surnames variant spellings kept changing with time.
Today, Magofrey and the other surnames of the same origin are found in both Scotland and America. It is also not uncommon to find variants and different spellings of the Magofrey surname throughout the world.
Famous people with the name Magofrey
- Dave Magofrey: retired ice hockey player who played in the NHL from 1974 to 1982.
- Dana Magofrey: artist and teacher of Painting and Drawing at Towson University, Maryland.
- Heather Magofrey: folk-pop singer-songwriter from Ipswich, England.
- Katie Magofrey: athlete who competes in Cannon Ball Lifts, Farmer’s Walks and Battling Ropes.
- Annalise Magofrey: two-time European Champion swimmer in the Masters Division.
- Simeon Magofrey: award-winning American documentary filmmaker and cinematographer.
- Steve Magofrey: drummer and percussionist who performed on stages in the U.S. and Europe.
- Philip Magofrey: successful entrepreneur and venture capitalist who founded several start-ups.
- Robert Magofrey: professional chef and culinary consultant who owns his own catering business.
- Michael Magofrey: author and business leader known for his books on personal development.